Newly appointed Sweden coach Jon Dahl Tomasson has held talks with Manchester United defender Victor Lindelof about his role as national team captain.
The 29-year-old defender will get the summer to rest because his Sweden side failed to qualify for the European Championships, meaning the Swedes won’t be at the finals for the first time in almost three decades.
Sweden could only collect 10 points from eight matches and finished third in their qualifying group behind Belgium and Austria.
There is a good chance Lindelof will pay the price for Sweden’s disastrous qualifying campaign, even though it feels like a harsh punishment when the entire squad underachieved. The side’s indifferent form led to the sacking of Janne Andersson and the appointment of former AC Milan striker Tomasson.
Tomasson insists that a decision has been made on the captaincy, although he is not willing to reveal it to the media until he addresses his squad. He said (via Fotbollskanalen): “I have decided. But the sad answer is that I won’t tell you yet! The players should be told first. It’s the right way to do things.
“I’m a bit boring that I can’t give you the answer. But I have met with Victor Nilsson Lindelof in England and we had a very good conversation. We talked about many things.”
Lindelof has a decision to make
When it comes to Lindelof’s club career, the Swede has a decision to make on whether he is happy being a squad player or if he wants to leave United for regular football elsewhere.
A number of players will be sold in the summer and it looks like Erik ten Hag admires Lindelof’s versatility.
Lindelof has played at centre-back and full-back under Ten Hag this season.
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